Giving up longtime franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford undoubtedly had a short-term negative impact on the Detroit Lions. That’s part of the reconstruction project plan developed by new GM Brad Holmes and his staff.
So far in this off-season, no NFL team has cost itself more of an impact on the win column than the Lions by agreeing to trade Stafford for the Rams for QB Jared Goff. The draft fee that will come to Detroit in the deal does not yet play a role in Pro Football Focus’s rating for ‘wins over replacements’ for the product on the field.
The Rams top the list of the most improved in terms of WAR addition, almost entirely in the form of Stafford taking over from Goff in Sean McVay’s attack. The lions are on the other side of the list.
It will be interesting to revisit the WAR additions / subtractions once free agency kicks off on March 17th. Hopefully the Lions will make some positive additions to make up for the massive loss of Stafford and the Free Agent recipients who are also expected to leave.